Paradoxically Pakistan suffers under the so-called democracy and prospers under the Army's rule. Almost all of Pakistan's politicians are corrupt and worse. Pakistan's best years were under Ayub Khan an army man. He ruled for 10 years and Pakistan's economy took off under him. This was undone by the "democrat" Bhutto when he nationalised everything General zia gave Pakistan's the atomic bomb and Pakistan's economy was flourishing and Pakistan was doing well in the two proxy wars against its arch-enemy India and the war in Afghanistan. This was again undone by the corrupt democratic governments of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir. Then again under General Musharraf Pakistan's economy improved substantially. He used Pakistan's army to nab tax evaders and the number of people who pay taxes increased by 50% with no increase in foreign debt. Pakistan was off the IMF programme. Now the plundering democrats are here again. I would question the suitability of democracy for Pakistan. Army's rule is not a long-term solution. But there should be governing body with army's representation to keep the corrupt politicians in check. There is corruption in the army as well but the level is much lower. I would support an army rule over Pakistan rather than such corrupt democracy.

"Pakistan promised to abolish loopholes in 2008 as one of the conditions for a generous IMF loan of $11.5 billion. Yet it failed to do so." And Pakistan believes, correctly, that international aid will come to it despite its pathetic efforts to stand on its own.

The fools are the international aid donors, taking money away from their tax payers and giving it to a country of tax-avoiders. Pakistan should be told to fend for itself. The US has supported this thuggish but hopeless nation for too long.

Comments of some of the (presumably) Indian chaps are amusing!! They only need a slight chance to jump on their neighbor country and start bashing... :) Keep it up guys, this is the hate that has been driving you; otherwise for you, there ain't much to live for... :)

40% of your population uses the open as a toilet, according to your newspaper.
You still haven't started on your flood victims problems. Gujarat, which had a terrible earthquake 10 years ago, got finished within a year.

40% of your budget goes to the army, and your army also owns a lot of business. This type of business is the worst part of the economy and causes a lot of problems. And it is always kept hidden

Since dictatorships have been mentioned in comments below, they certainly have much to do with Pakistan's economic woes if I may add, taking a lion's share of its GDP. Furthermore, why have nuclear arms when the population has meagre means of education or social welfare?? The economic team in Islamabad is highly professional. As happens in the west, lobby groups including parliament members as referred to in the article additionally to the opposition, have it seems sabotaged the policies minister Hafeez Shaikh announced some time back. Aid tied to policy changes and more could be the solution...

Army in power is not fixed term assignment. They perceive their role as if on the front line,trigger happy as always.

They sneak in by the back door, tearing the rulebook of civil governance enshrined in the constituition.It becomes a norm hence history of army dictatorship in Pakistan.

The Economic barometer has nothing to do with how the country is governed.

Indian have enjoyed democratic rule since independence but failed on several counts as global player.

Food is still scarce,malnutrition among children,infant mortality is rampant.

Pakistan lost crucial time to develop infrastructure,core instituitions to navigate itself in good times or bad.
Field Marshall Ayub Khan's venture of 1965 then birth of BanglaDesh still reverbrates as army operations in Blauchistan, as of now.This is as dangerous as futile mission of Kargil by the army.Pakistan lost its political presence on the world stage.That itself is not easy to win back in the face of behaviour of the likes of Nawaz Bros and Son.This Zardari with photo of his late wife speaking at UNO is disgrace to every Pakistani.The evil comes from the mismatch of our deeds,intentions.A mindset commonly
known as corruption.This itself becomes invisble over time.It dissolves into our National charactor hard to remove.

Hence best of intentions by the newcommers in politics may not be enough...

Thanks for being real Public Dude supporting fools of International Aid Donors.

The donors got their money's worth so far.

Yankees will not come out of this meat grinder,Af-Pak border,Afghanistan without paying consultacies fees either.

This is fair game,besides Pakistan lost more 50,000 innocent lives.It had been a bargain for the USA Admin.It won't be like the farewell exit from Vietnam in 2013-2014,which may prolong another five years...

There is a silver lining around every cloud.
Consider this..... The polls tell us a coup is popular. And yet they did not have one. That is a major positive.
Try this... In Musharaff's years as President, the IMF lent you some money. Later on, Musharaff refused their ongoing conditions, because of USA largesse.
However recently, the USA has stopped this type of help. To me, and to Imran Khan, that is a positive.The IMF has taken over.
Consider this, there seem to be a lot of signs telling us that you are reducing your sponsorship of some terrorists.
And you are. Actually prosecuting those Mumbai terrorists. You guys are actually becoming a responsible nation.this is getting away from the North Korean Brand of terrorist sponsorship. The next road may be hard, but it is a big positive.
Anothe major point. The 'Dawn Newspaper' is actually discussing the conditions under which your first constitution was being discussed, and as to why the partnership with 'BANGLADESH' was broken. And for the first time the Pakistani's are not stupidly blaming India for their problems.
Critics do have a positive effect.
Clouds always have a silver lining.

This logic is akin to legless centipede.No help expected or was sought for Nuclear programmm,Pakistan can boast clean record for managing Nuclear Energy for peacefull uses,Karachi never slept,bathing in neon lights,every night.Same is true of its Nuclear weapons empowerment.

Karachi was a place brimming with hope and happiness.It can be revived,enlivened thousands times for Bopmbay or Mumbai to envy.

Hindustan started its Nuclearisation as early as 50's,as of now, one can only estimate its counts of Warheads aimed at Pakistan and China.Media of the West and Indians are always meek and mute about it but would claim to pin point Pakistan's Nuclear installations as targets , recommending to be obliterated with neutron bombs.

This is Hannoman's attitude when asked to find a herb, brought the whole hill loaded on his shoulder for Shiva to pick plant he wished for his cure....

Pakistan be haild , its presence be honoured at home and abroad.It only costs moving of Zuban(Weighs only few gms),pen and paper with positive thoughts that provoke positive action or reaction.

....of late, prophets from heavens do not visit earthlings any more.

See the grass burning under the feets of Indians aka Bharati posters,that itself is proof of return on investment,besides visiting their mental wilderness.

There is a silver lining around every cloud.
Consider this..... The polls tell us a coup is popular. And yet they did not have one. That is a major positive.
Try this... In Musharaff's years as President, the IMF lent you some money. Later on, Musharaff refused their ongoing conditions, because of USA largesse.
However recently, the USA has stopped this type of help. To me, and to Imran Khan, that is a positive.The IMF has taken over.
Consider this, there seem to be a lot of signs telling us that you are reducing your sponsorship of some terrorists.
And you are. Actually prosecuting those Mumbai terrorists. You guys are actually becoming a responsible nation.this is getting away from the North Korean Brand of terrorist sponsorship. The next road may be hard, but it is a big positive.
Anothe major point. The 'Dawn Newspaper' is actually discussing the conditions under which your first constitution was being discussed, and as to why the partnership with 'BANGLADESH' was broken. And for the first time the Pakistani's are not stupidly blaming India for their problems.
Critics do have a positive effect.
Clouds always have a silver lining.

The only sustainable solutions to this cancer of the world is forced sundering of Pakistan. Now that Bangladesh is out of Pakis, it is slowly getting into a development mindset.

Eject Sindh, Baloch, Khyber out of Pak (which effectively means Punjab) and much of the perennial migraine of this region as well as of the world will be cured forever. Pakistan is currently the most deceitful nation in the world.

Pakistan became victim of its own creation. It sided with America in creating the terror network in Afghanistan. Now they have become too big and are attacking the creator. What goes around comes around.